Husbonden Vilev, Sankta Barbara och prosten Wittingh – En helgedom vid Dalälven under tusen år

Abstract

The church in Österfärnebo parish, Gästrikland province, was consecrated in 1827. It was erected close to the the old church, built in the 13th century, which was subsequently torn down. A few small pieces of land, allotted to the first priest’s support, and known from medieval sources, are interpreted as proof of the presence of an even older church. The churches were built on the site of a pre-Christian cultic centre, indicated by a place-name containing ”Vi” (sanctuary), and a pagan cemetery. The site’s 1000-year’s continuity is discussed and three personages highlighted: the Christian husband Vilev, remembered on one of the site’s three Runic stones and buried among his heathen ancestors. The patron saint Barbara whose attribute, the tower, still appears on the parish seal. And the dean and vicar, Wittingh, who persuaded the parishioners to replace the old church with a much bigger one. In his days, this was deemed necessary in order to seat the increasing population, participation in the rite of eucharist beeing mandatory. Howevever, as principally responsible for destroying the medieval church and most of its treasures, he is nowadays ingloriously remembered.